Luggage carrier attachment for automobiles



May l3, 1952 K. w. MCcRoRY ET Ax.

LUGGAGE CARRIER ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1950 O E 3 6 n( 2 2 Suventor Gttorneg May 13, 1952 K. w. MOCRORY ET A1. 2,596,850

LUGGAGE CARRIER ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Feb. 3, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 @ttm-ncp Patented May 13, 1952 LUGGAGE CARRIER ATTACHMENT AUTOMOBILES FOR Kenneth -W. fMcGrory and yAlbert W. Rollins, Kansas City, Mo.,. assignors` to Barkei'.MoCrory lvlanufacturingv Company; Kansas City, 'Mon` a corporation ofjMissouri ApplicationiFebruary 3, 1950,'S erial.'No.; 142,;224

,.6 Claims. .1

vThis invention "relates `ito automobile luggage :carrier rrnountings and :keepers therefor, :and .more-:particularly to mountings and ,fasteners for .securing luggageand/or like carriers onrroofs or ftopsrofzautomobiles.

' IThegobjects ofthe; present invention are to provide a Iluggage carrier Amounting and ikeepers therefor radapte'd; for .releasable engagement v on curved orzsloping surfaces andthe side drainage gutters ixvhieh` normally are part of automobile body. construction; .'to, provide; the luggagezcarrier :with :universally :mounted Vacuum y:cupse which :permit-said..cups3tosubstantially align :with the 1 radius of' the contour; and:.adhere to the .surface with substantially .equal pressure on the entre surface 1engaging.1edges gofs. said: oups; .toiprovide a .vacuum cupi mounting 4 ongluggage .carriers ...wherebyisaid cups. n'layfengage;and adhere;,to.ithe curved portions at the sides ofithef-topfwhere same l has;y greater rigidity to; provide :.jiastening evces .'.zin i combination f with the t vacuum .coup

Hnountings '.for i ,preventing t shifting :of `the load oonsaidmountings; toprovide theluggagecarrier :mounting withhooks lwhich substantially :oon-

for-mvtocthe outersurfacefo'f `the drainagesgutters :land-have; jawsor.keepersin'connection therewith a for eliminating possibility sof accidental :release roffsaidzfhooks r or fmovement thereofflongitudinally :zf ;.the:. gutters; to provide -a duggagerparrier :.mountingswith :hooks ywand :clamps por keepers 1.therefor:having;an:automatic closing onf'gripping action Wherebyr said .hook :cannot 1 be dislodged :shy striking samefgwiththexdoor'of an automobile .;orrby-slightrloosenngofthe connectionwith the ;@luggageamounting thereby feliminatingsanyypos- :.sibility.,ofziaccidental di'slodgment ofthe luggage Yfrom. the topv of vfthexfautomobile; 1 to 'rprovideffan autom'obile *luggage carrier mounting aso Acongzstrncted: ,as to be securely` mounted :onf-an autotmobile'y topwithout marring any portions; ofthe .fautomobilezg structure; and tov .provide a. luggage fcarrierfmounting andi clamps or; keepers. therefor ":whichzfiseconomical to manufacture,- -of strong -rdurablezfstructura .1that;. is easily attached and removed from-automobiles 'yet when--attachedis positively retained thereon -and substantially eliminates possibility vof f accidental dislodgment -.-or- .shifting,v this .mounting 'being-.adapted to en- .fggage the iside *portions of the rautomobile top `whereby/saidfmountingwwill not-dent or.v otherwise .xdamage the automobile structure.

In accomplishing these Vand :other r obje-ots. of the inventionfwe -havg-provided11improved.details fotostructure;;theV preferred.; forms of -fwhich are shown in: the-accompanying-'drawings/:wherein:

(Cl. 22,4-1-142L1) 'Figi is a fragmentaryperspective viewv show- .ingaluggage carriersecured in place by mountings -andffhookshaving :keepers embodying the .features of they present invention.

Fig i2 I is a` sectional `View .showingr the mount- :ngs-and'keepers and engagement thereof with the automobile bodyon the line 2v2 of Fig., 1.

.-AFig. .3 is a-.sectona1vie,w through the mountingon the line 3-3, Fig. .2.

Fig Airis a" perspective view .of the hook .and

y'lreepersas applied to the drainagegutter of .an automobile.

.-Fig. A5 iszladisassembledvv perspective view of the luggagemounting.

lr-ig; 6 is agsectionalview ofthe hookand keeper wither-a `rigid luggageconneetor.

Fig. .-7,- =is @a sectional View showing a modified Vform; ofnelamping` hook.

Referring more indetailito the drawings:

I;designates.-a luggage. carrier adapted tobe supported-on the top 2- of an ordinary automobile: bodyby a pluralityI vof resilient members such -asrrubber `suction or y vacuum cups f3 and seeuredwby fastening devices-4 to the drainage 'cured together -as -by welding tol for-m Asides and endsl of the-receptacle. ARods II are .suitably .,secured-asgby ywelding to the angle-iron frame 1 to form .the `bottom of the, receptacle.

Transverse members I2 having eylindrical .p0r-

tions 4are-arranged adjacent the respective. ends lfof the receptacle and are secured thereto by fastening :devices I 3- such asbolts-and nuts.

The transverse members I2 4are tubular Vfor vlightness weight. andsare spaced `from the bottom of the receptacle'fbyxspacers III. Themembers I2 extendzlaterallyof and beyond .the-sides ofthe receptacle and preferably terminate :as at. I5, short ofthe sides I6 ofthe automobile .tofavoid having'anyg projecting portions.

.-:Supports IIfare.v arranged -to carry .eachA end r of the` transverse `members I2 `and haveuniversal .connection therewith. The supports I'I each'loonlsist Sof-v spaced-legs I 8 and I 9v` connected at. their Aupper-.rends -by.-bridge pieces ZU-WhChffmay be integral therewith. l"The legs I8 and- I9 are prefer- .ably of equal length and-have-feet 2 I extending I outwardlyfat theirlower ends." The-.Vacuumoups -3-are suitably secured -tor eachof the feet and are preferably formed of highly flexible yieldable rubber so that when the concave bottom surfaces are pressed firmly against the top surface of an automobile a vacuum will be created to effect adherence thereto. The supports I1 are adapted to be arranged whereby the bridge pieces 20 extend longitudinally of the automobile body7 with the transverse members I2 extending over and across the central portion of said bridge members. Each of the bridge members is preferably formed to provide a longitudinally arranged cylindrical concavity 22 in the upper face thereof, the radius of said concavity substantially conforming to the radius of the outer surfaces of a semicylindrical member 23 adapted to seat in the concavties 22. The upper surfaces of the semicylindrical members 23 are provided with a cylindrical concavity 24 or seat adapted to receive the cylindrical portion of the transverse members I2 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The semi-cylindrical members 23 are provided with spaced apertures 25 registrable with transverse slots 25 in the bridge pieces 23, the spacing of the apertures 25 and slots 26 being slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical portions of the transverse members I2 whereby legs 21of U-bolts 28 may be inserted therethrough. The legs 21 of the U-bolts are connected by arcuate portions 23 which extend over and engage the transverse members I2, the free ends of said legs 21 being threaded and having nuts 30 screwed thereon. Through this arrangement, the transverse members I2 may turn or rock in the concavity 24 about the axes thereof which are transverse to the automobile and the semcylindrioal members 23 may rock in the concavities 22 to effect a movement about the longitudinal axis relative to the automobile to provide a universal connection between the transverse members I2 and the supports I1. The only limit as to the extent of this universal movement being the length of the slots 26, however, when the nuts 3D are tight the U-bolts 28 are pulled against the transverse members I2 to secure same to the semi-cylindrical members 23 and the members 23 to the bridge members 23 to form a rigid connection.

The luggage carrier is adjustably secured to the automobile body by means of connecting members or straps 3| having hook and keeper devices 32 thereon adapted to engage the drainage gutter of the automobile body. The straps 3| preferably extend through eyes 33 in flanges 34 of suitable brackets 35 removably connected to the U-bolts 23. In the form of bracket illustrated, the bar portions 36 of said brackets are provided with notches 31 opening on the sides 38 adjacent the flanges 34 and arranged at an angle thereto whereby one of the said notches 31 lof each bracket may be engaged with a leg 21 of the respective U-bolt 28 and the bracket turned about said leg to engage the other notch with the other leg of said U-bolt, however, said notches are so arranged that a straight `pull to- Ward either side of the bar member will not disengage the notches 31 from the legs of the U-bolt. The bar portionspreferably are arranged between thev nuts`3 and l'the' bridge pieces 20 of the supports I1 whereby tightening of the nuts 30 will rigidly secure the brackets to the support members. The flanges 34 extend from the sides 38 of the bar members and are provided with bends 39, whereby when the supports I1 for the carrier and the universal connections thereof with the transverse members I2 are in normal position on an automobile top, the flanges 34 will extend approximately on lines with the straps 3|. It is preferable that the eyes 33 in the flanges 34 each be provided with a grommet 40 of suitable material to reduce the abrasion and damage that might occur to the strap by relative movement of the strap and bracket during use.

The hook and keeper devices 32 are preferably formedof sheet metal and each consists of a hook member 4I and a jaw or keeper member 42. The hook member 4I is so shaped as to provide a curved hook portion 43 formed at one end thereof and extending across for the full width of the hook member. 'Ihe inner radius of said hook portion conforms substantially to the radius of the outer surface of the drainage gutter 5 to provide maximum friction against slipping of the hooks laterally towards the front or rear along the gutters. The hook member is preferably provided With intermediate spaced opposite bends 44 and 45 to form an abutment portion 46 adapted to engage the surface of the top of the automobile in spaced relation to the drainage gutters as illustrated in Fig. 2. A slot 41 is arranged between the hook and bend 44, through which a tongue 48 of the keeper 42 extends, said tongue having substantially the same Width as the length of the slot and the jaw being substantially coextensive with the widthof the hook member to form shoulders 43v adapted to engage the hook member at the ends of the slot 41 whereby the keeper member may fulcrum on the hook member. The tongue 48 is provided with a grommet 5| of suitable material to reduce abrasive action on the strap 3|' which extends through the eye 50. and jaw member 42 are preferably covered with a suitable cushioning material such as felt, rubber and the like to prevent marring the finish on the automobile.

The straps 3| extend through the eyes 40 and the eyes 50 and are provided with buckles 52 for suitably securing the ends of thev straps whereby said straps may be adjusted in length forming a i tight connection between the hook and keeper devices 32 and the luggage carrier supports I1. Tension on the straps 3| fulcrums the keeper members at the ends of the slots41 whereby the curved lower edges 53 of the jaw approaches and/or engages the inner upper surface of the drainage gutters and the hook members engage the outer surfaces of said gutters to retain the hooks in engagement with the gutters. The gutters may be clamped or gripped between the hooks and keepers, however, the keepers will prevent the hooks from being dislodged or removed if the edges 53 are only near the inner upper surface of the gutters. Also a very slight clamping action may be used satisfactorily. Also with this hook and keeper arrangement, the strap 3| can be very loose without the hook being disengaged from the gutter as there must be considerable movement on the outer portion of the keeper before there is spacing between the hook portion and the jaw sufficient to disengage the hook from the gutter. In instances where the upper edge of the automobile door is positioned very close to the bottom of the gutter,` opening of the car door will knock conventional hooks from engagement with the gutter. The keeping action of the present jaw and hook portions on the gutter prevent any accidental disengagement or dislodgment of the clamping hook from said gutter by the door or other means.

In using a luggage carrier constructed and assembled as described, the carrier is placed on a All of the surfaces of the hook member 4|l l59'rtiori under the" drainage gutter andtdarange fh@ iewgertneihe lseizlieeefifl ienf .Surfae disais. suites vThe Straps ilje're then .tightened were. e P1111 ,0n theluesed @fthe .ansie .e to, draw the hbok-prti hsf mw. geht .erangementvith the gutter and. heldin? keeper .inrlae te prevent ,dslqdgmsni 0f; Seid 1100K- ;The straps also apply fQrCe ,t0 ,the 'Supperis Il, i0 vholl s ar x1e securely onthe'automobile top and to eliminate -any possibility --of Vthe luggage carrier :slippinaor moving@ the top ,fifths euionifbile or the luggage carrier from being dislodged from said automobile top. The* locating of Vthe vacu- `umcups 3 on the curved portion of the v automolbiletop and the cushioning coating on the jaw and hook vmembers reduce the possibility of mar ring thenish of the automobile. While it is desirable that thehook 'portion conform Vin shape to the-gutter, saidkeeper and hook will function port greater" weight i.

sbstanml entrons engagement with the" surorfany automobilegutter ror the likeat the sidesof the top thereof due to the hookhandrjaw members being held on opposite sides ofthegutter in response to tension on the strap"3|, however, by suitably-loosening thestrapthe vhooi; and keeper devicesmmayfbe easily'disengaged for yquick re- ,Y

moval of the luggage carrier.

Whi-lethe device is illustrated as having a receptacle', 'it-'is believed obvious that the transverse members I2 or the like be attached and supported by the supports IIandclamping hookA members to carry other types Aof receptacles or Y"support'otl''erdevices directly on tlertra's'verse members l2. n u

In the form-lofA theinventionillustrated in Fig.

6, the hook and keeper arel substantially the same 'asillustrated in Fig. 2 and an adjustable'substantially rigid connector '."a5.-is-substituted for the 'strap I. The connector-'consists of two pieces f adjustably secured together by -a screw 56, lone of said pieces having a hookv 51" adaptedY to ex-A v'tend through the slot 50 for connecting the keeper Ithereto. The other pieceisprovioled with afhoo.: 58 or other suitable device for connecting with the luggage support.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig.

:7j the clamping hook consists ofa hook member 69' and' keeper member 6|. The keeper member has an end forming a jaw 62 and a tongue 63 eX- tending through a slot G4 in the hook member whereby tension on a strap B5 extending through an eye 66 in the tongue 63 of the keeper member geen Yffulcrums the r'keeper member at the'y ends 'f of the A:It is1 believed obvious that wehave-provided a top of -an'aut'omobile in -an efficient manner to prevent damage to the automobile and prevent any possibility ofi-accidentally'dislodging the -car- '-rier or mounting therefor.

What We desiretoclaim and seeurebyi Letters 'i PatentAV is:

1. 'A- luggage ycarrier for vmounting on the top of an vautomobile comprising, a receptacle, transeo `verse members secured to saidfreceptacle, spaced supperts vover the automobile -top in inwardly "spaced relation to the longitudinal edges and havingv universal connections with the transverse members, resilient -members on the 'supports' for engaging the top V'ef lan-automobile, means for releasably'seouringthe supports and transverse Vmembers together to' prevent a universal movement thereof, hook members having portions adapted to engage the outer surface of the usual opento'p vgutters lalong the longitudinal edges of v'the automobile top, abutment portions 'von the hook'members extending upwardly therefrom and engaging the automobile top above the gutters,

saidhookmembers having slots therein adjacent the abutment portions and above the open top "of the guttersfa keeper member on each hook member and-having portions adjacent the inner surface of the gutters, a tongue on each keeper member extending upwardly through the slot of a hook member and fulcrumed on the edges thereof, the vupper portions of said tongue being spaced from ther automobile top and means adjustably connecting the supports-and upper portions of the tongues whereby tension on said connecting means draws the upper portions of the tongues vtoward the automobile top and moves the keeper members toward the inner surface of the gutters to substantially engage lsame and retain the gutters between vthe respective keeper and hook fr nembers and retains the resilient members in engagement with the automobile top.

2. A luggage carrier for mounting on the( top of yan automobile comprising a receptacle, transve"1'se"`membe1s secured to said receptacle adjacent the ends thereof", spaced supports over the automobile top in inwardly spaced relation to the 'longitudinal edges thereof and having universai dcorirn-:c-tions withthe transverse members, said jsup'ports each having spaced legs, vacuum cups vhired!l to the support legs, said universal connec- 4tionsp ermitting'the supports to be movedrelative to the transverse members to position of the vacuum-cups on the usual curved portions adjacent to sides of the automobile top with the plane formed by the edges of the respective cups substantially lperpendicularl tov the radii of curvavtureof` said curved portions', means for releasably securing the support and transverse members togethertofprevent a 'universal movement thereof, 7()

vl'iookmembers adapted to engage the outer surfaceof l'the usual open top gutters along the longitudinal'edges -of the automobile top, vportions on the hook members extending upwardly and over the open top gutters and having slots therein above said gutters, a keeper member on each of the hook members and having portions adjacent the inner surface of the gutters, a tongue on each keeper member extending upwardly through the slot of a respective hook member, said tongue being spaced from the automobile top and means adjustably connecting the supports and portions of the tongues above the slots of the hook members, whereby tension on said means draws the tongues toward the automobile top and moves the keeper members toward the surface of the gutters to substantially engage same and retain the gutters between the respective keeper and hook members and retains the vacuum cups in engagement with the automobile top.

3. A luggage carrier for mounting on the top of an automobile comprising a receptacle, transverse members secured to said receptacle adjacent the ends thereof, said transverse members having cylindrical portions, a rocker member engaging the cylindrical portions of the transverse members and having cylindrical bottoms thereon extending substantially longitudinally of the receptacle, supports each having pairs of spaced legs, resilient members fixed on each of said spaced legs and adapted to engage the top of an automobile, a bridge connecting the spaced legs of each support, said bridge having arcuate seats therein for receiving the cylindrical bottoms of the rocker members said rocker members and bridges having aligning spaced apertures and slots respectively, means engaging the cylindrical portions of the transverse members and extending through the slots and apertures for releasably securing the supports and transverse members together to prevent universal movement thereof, a bracket engaging the fastening means on the respective supports and secured thereby to said supports, hook members adapted to clamp on the usual gutters along the longitudinal edges of the automobile top, and means adjustably connecting the hook members and brackets whereby tension on said connecting means retains said hook members secured to the gutters and retains the resilient members in engagement with the automobile top.

4. A luggage carrier for mounting on the top of an automobile comprising a receptacle, transverse members secured to said receptacle adjacent the ends thereof, said transverse members having cylindrical end portions, a rocker member engaging the cylindrical portions of the transverse members and having. cylindrical bottoms thereon extending substantially longitudinally of the receptacle, supports each having pairs of spaced legs, resilient members fixed on each of said spaced legs and adapted to engage the top of an automobile, a bridge connecting the spaced legs ofV each support, said bridge having arcuate seats therein for receiving the cylindrical bottoms of the rocker members said rocker member and bridges having aligning spaced apertures and slots respectively, fastening means engaging the cylindrical portions of the transverse members and extending through the slots and apertures for releasably securing the supports and transverse members together .to prevent universal movement thereof, a bracket having notches engaging the fastening means on the respective supports for securing said brackets thereto, hook members adapted to engage the outer surface of the usual gutters along the longitudinal edges of the automobile top, a keeper member on each of the hook members and having portions adjacent the inner surface of the gutters, and means adjustably connecting the keeper members and brackets whereby tension on said connecting means retains the gutters between the keeper and hook members and retains the resilient members in engagement'.v

with the automobile top.

5. In a luggage carrier having portions for engaging the top of an automobile in spaced relagaging the inner surface of the gutters, upwardly extending portions on the keeper members ful-y crumed on the upwardly extending portions of the hook members and extending thereabove in 20,

spaced relation to the automobile top, and means adjustably connecting the luggage carrier and keeper portion above the fulcruming point thereof whereby tension Hon said means draws the upwardly extending portions of the keeper toward the inner surface of the gutters to substantially engage sameand retainthe gutters between the respective keeper and hook members.

6. In a luggage carrier having luggage supports for engaging the top of an automobile in spaced relation to the usual open top gutters on the longitudinal edges of said top, hook members for engaging the outer and underneath surfaces of said usual gutters, abutment portions on the hook members and extending upwardly therefrom and engaging the automobile top above the gutters, said hook members having slots therein adjacent the abutments and above the open top of the gutters, keeper members for engaging the inner surface of the gutters, a tongue on each keeper member extending upwardly through the slot of a hook member and fulcrumed on the edges thereof, the upper portions of said tongues being spaced from the automobile top, and means adjustably connecting the luggage supports and tongues whereby tension on the said means draws the upper portions of the tongues toward the automobile top and moves the keeper members toward the inner surface of the gutters to substantially engage same andrretain the gutters between the respective keeper'and hookmembers.

KENNETH W. MCCRORY. ALBERT W. ROLLINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

